薇薇安的世界365圈

My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

朋友們，我們終於抵達這漫長旅途的終點。美國的人民清楚明確的表達出內心的想法。在剛剛，我很榮幸能親自透過電話恭賀巴拉克‧歐巴馬當選了這個我們摯愛的國家的下任總統。

In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.

在這漫長艱辛的競選過程，他的成功不僅贏得我對他的能力及堅忍不拔精神的敬重。他也希望藉此激勵數百萬曾經對本次大選感到憂心忡忡的美國民眾。這也是我深感敬佩以及大力讚賞之處。

This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

這是會場名留青史的選舉。我能明瞭這對非裔美國人及他們的驕傲所帶來的特殊意義。這是屬於他們的一夜!!

I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.

我一直深信美國提供機會給有雄心壯志以及願意把握機會的人們。歐巴馬議員也是如此相信的。但我們同時也明瞭雖然過去的不公義有損將國家的名譽，同時也忽略了一些人民的公民權，但他們的記憶仍然是一大傷痛。

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth. 

一世紀前，羅斯福總統邀請布克‧華盛頓至白宮晚宴曾引起軒然大波。如今，美國已經遠離當時的殘酷及偏見。最佳的證據就是本次大選是由一位非裔美國人獲勝。現在，讓一切會使人對公民權失望的藉口在這地球上最偉大的國家消彌無形。

Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer in my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day, though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.

歐巴馬議員為自己及他的國家達到一個重要的里程碑。我在此為他鼓掌，同時也對他的摯愛的祖母無法親眼見到這光榮的一日表示哀悼，但我們深信她現在安息主懷，並且為她一手撫養的好孩子感到驕傲。

Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

歐巴馬議員和我曾為不同的意見爭論，最終他的看法獲得多數支持。但那些歧異還存在無疑，也會造成我們的國家的困境。今晚，我在此向他保證我將盡一己之所能幫助他，讓他帶領我們通過難關。

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

我在此呼籲那些曾經支持我的人，除了恭賀，也對我們的新總統釋出善意及最大的支持。讓我們可以團結一起，消彌歧見，妥善溝通，為恢復我們的資產而努力，為保衛我們國家安全而盡力，希望可以留給後代子孫一個比現在更強壯更美好的國家。

Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. 

無論我們究竟有何不同，我們都是美國的子民。請相信我現在所提到的'無社群'的意義比以往更為堅定。

It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again. We fought as hard as we could.

今晚感到失望是正常的。但明天，我們必須繼續向前行，再次為國家的進步竭盡所能。

And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.

除此之外，今晚的失敗是屬於我一個人的，而非你們任何人。

I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends. The road was a difficult one from the outset. But your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.

對你們的支持及努力，我感到無限的光榮及感激。朋友們，我也希望結果是不同的。選戰開始我們就走的艱辛。但你們的支持及友誼從不遲疑。我真不知道該如何回報這份情誼。

I am especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign. I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.

我特別感謝我的妻子，辛蒂，我的孩子們，我親愛母親，我的家庭，以及所有在這艱困漫長的選戰中和我同一陣線的朋友們。我一直是個幸運的人，沒有比擁有這些愛及鼓勵更大的幸運了！

You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign. All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude, and the promise of more peaceful years ahead. 

你們知道，競選活動對於候選人的家庭來說，往往比對候選人自己更為辛苦。在這次大選，我們證明了這點。我僅以我的愛和感激為補償，並承諾未來平靜安寧的生活。

I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I have ever seen and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength. Her husband Todd and their five beautiful children with their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country. 

當然，我也非常感激莎拉‧培林州長，最好的競選搭檔，也是在黨內令人印象深刻的新聲音及改革的最大力量。她的丈夫陶德及五位美麗的孩子對我們的理想長久的奉獻，也在這混亂的競選表現出勇氣及仁慈，我們可以期待她日後在阿拉斯加州，在黨內，及對國家的作為。

To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly month after month in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.

對於我所有的競選團隊, Rick, Steve,  Mark, 以及所有一直以來陪我們在這有史以來最困難的選舉中一路打拼的志工，我由衷表達我的感謝之意。選舉失敗對我的意義比起你們的信念及友誼顯得微不足道。

I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.

我不知道我們還能多做些什麼去贏得這場選舉。我將把這個問題留給後人評斷。每個候選人都會犯錯，我也不例外。但我對於過去的每一秒絕不後悔！

This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life. And my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.

能參與這次大選是我人生中的一大光榮。我內心對所獲得的經驗以及美國人民給我和歐巴馬團隊公平競爭機會充滿感激。能在未來的四年領導我們是歐巴馬議員及我的老朋友Joe議員應得的榮耀。

I would not be an American worthy of the name, should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century. Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone and I thank the people of Arizona for it. 

我在美國人民中只是微不足道，我絕不後悔有特別得機會服務這個國家超過半世紀。今天我是這個我最愛國家的最高機關的候選人。今夜，我仍然是她的僕人。這會是所有人的祝福而我也為此感謝亞利桑納州人民。

Tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama, I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.

今晚的意義更甚於任何夜晚。我誠心熱愛我的國家以及所有人民，不管他們是支持我，或是支持曾是我可敬對手，也將是我的總統的歐巴馬議員。

And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.

我在此呼籲所有美國人民，一如我在選舉期間一直做的，請不要對現在的困境感到失望，請相信在這應許的偉大國度，沒有事情是必然的。

Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history, we make history. 

美國人絕不對放棄，絕不會認輸。我們不會逃避歷史，我們會創造歷史。

Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much. 

謝謝大家，上帝保佑你們，也保佑美國。我由衷的感謝大家。



P.S這真是給高中學生練閱讀寫作的好範本...